Château Latour à Pomerol

History of Château Latour à Pomerol

Château Latour à Pomerol takes its name from the small tower adjacent to the main building. Its history truly begins in 1917, when it was acquired by Madame Loubat, then the owner of the celebrated Château Pétrus. The Loubat family, closely linked to the development of the estate, enabled the château to rise among the greatest names of Pomerol. 

Upon the death of Madame Loubat in 1961, the estate passed into the hands of her niece, Lily Lacoste-Loubat, who entrusted the management of the vines to the Moueix family in 1962. Although the property has changed hands several times, notably through a controversial donation in 2002 to a charitable organisation, management has remained stable under the direction of Établissements Jean-Pierre Moueix, a major player in the wine world in Bordeaux.

In 2024, the estate returned fully into the fold of the Moueix family, marking a new chapter in the history of this vineyard. This connection with the Moueix family ensures that tradition, expertise, and viticultural excellence continue from year to year.

The 1947 and 1961 vintages of Château Latour à Pomerol received a score of 100/100 from Robert Parker, while 1950 received 98/100 and the years 1959 and 1962 were rated 97/100, highlighting the excellence of this estate.

Terroirs and Vines of Château Latour à Pomerol

The vineyard of Château Latour à Pomerol covers approximately 8 hectares, spread across unique plots that fully benefit from the diversity of soils in the Pomerol appellation. This terroir is composed mainly of gravelly-clay soils (approximately two-thirds of the estate) and clay-silt soils (one-third), which endow the wines with remarkable aromatic richness and rare complexity. 

The estate's finest plots are located near the church of Pomerol, on gravelly soils that offer excellent drainage capacity, essential for ensuring the concentration and quality of the grapes. This proximity to prestigious estates such as Château Clinet and Château Trotanoy underlines the exceptional quality of these terroirs.

Merlot reigns supreme in this vineyard, accounting for 100% of the planted surface. This grape variety, particularly well-suited to the conditions of Pomerol, produces wines that are at once powerful, silky, and highly expressive. The average age of the vines is 25 years, ensuring a perfect balance between aromatic concentration and tannic complexity. These vines, cultivated using traditional and environmentally respectful methods, are planted at a density of 6,000 vines per hectare, encouraging high-quality production.

Winemaking at Château Latour à Pomerol

The winemaking methods of Château Latour à Pomerol combine tradition with modern precision. Every step is designed to preserve the intrinsic quality of the grapes and extract their finest potential. The harvest is carried out by hand with the utmost care, with the vendange taking place in several passes to ensure optimal ripeness of each cluster.

Once the grapes have been meticulously sorted, fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled concrete tanks, known for their ability to preserve the freshness and integrity of the aromas. Since 2009, the château has also used stainless steel tanks for certain vinifications, allowing for greater flexibility in managing the different plots.

Malolactic fermentation, which plays a crucial role in softening the tannins and adding roundness to the wine, takes place primarily in tanks, with a small proportion in barrels depending on the vintage. Aging, for its part, is carried out in French oak barrels, approximately 30% of which are new. This process takes place over an average period of 18 months, depending on the character of each vintage, allowing the wine to develop its structure and complexity while retaining a beautiful freshness.

The Cuvées of Château Latour à Pomerol

Château Latour à Pomerol produces a single main cuvée, but it varies greatly depending on the vintage, offering each time a unique expression of the terroir. Certain vintages from the estate have made history among the great wines of Bordeaux, and continue to be sought after by enthusiasts and collectors around the world.

Legendary Vintages

1947, 1950, 1959, 1961: These vintages rank among the greatest ever produced by Château Latour à Pomerol. The 1961 vintage is in particular considered one of the finest wines of Bordeaux of all time, a model of balance and finesse.

1982, 2009, 2010, 2015: These years mark the estate's powerful comeback, after a period of inconsistency. The wines produced during these vintages are of exceptional quality, rivalling the finest classified growths of the region.

Recent Vintages

The château's most recent vintages, notably 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, perfectly embody the estate's qualitative renaissance. These wines offer a perfect balance between freshness, aromatic richness, and tannic structure. 

The 2021, for example, captivates with its unctuousness, its notes of small black berries and violet, as well as its refinement. Already pleasurable to drink when decanted, it will gain further complexity in the years to come. This wine perfectly illustrates the estate's ability to produce harmonious wines with remarkable ageing potential.

Pomerol, one of the most prestigious appellations in Bordeaux, has produced some of the finest wines over the decades. The most remarkable vintages include 1970, 1975, 1982, 1983, 1989, and 1990, recognized for their complexity and longevity. Other exceptional years such as 1995, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010 continue to delight lovers of great wines. More recently, the vintages 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 have confirmed Pomerol's ability to produce wines of exceptional quality, further consolidating the reputation of this appellation among the greatest of Bordeaux.

Discover the other great châteaux of Pomerol, true treasures of the Right Bank, where each estate vies for excellence. Beyond the mythical Pétrus, explore prestigious names such as Beauregard, Bon Pasteur, Clinet, Gazin, Haut Trochaud, L'Eglise Clinet, La Conseillante, La Fleur Pétrus, Lafleur, Le Pin, Latour à Pomerol, Nénin, Trotanoy, and Vieux Château Certan. These estates, often compared to the grands crus classés of Saint-Émilion, offer a unique experience, rich in finesse and character, that will delight lovers of great wines. 

Château Latour à Pomerol is today one of the most iconic vineyards of the Pomerol appellation. With its exceptional terroirs, rich history, and traditional winemaking methods, it continues to produce wines of great distinction, prized for their elegance and depth. Lovers of great Bordeaux wines will find in this estate an unmissable reference, particularly thanks to recent vintages that rival the finest productions of the region. Whether you are a collector in search of a historic vintage or a lover of wines with character, Château Latour à Pomerol offers an unforgettable experience, reflecting the viticultural excellence of Pomerol.